N° 8.
COPY OF A L E T T E R
FROM THE HONORABLE CAPTAIN JONES TO
REAR-ADMIRAL SIR EDWARD NEAGLE, COMMANDER
IN CHIEF, * c„ f a , Ssc.
His Majesty’s Sloop, Talbot, Reikevig Bay,
Iceland, August 23rd, 1809.
S ir ,
I have to acquaint you that, owing to
extremely bad weather, I had no communication
with this island until the 5th of
August, when I anchored for a few hours in
Oreback Bay. I was there informed that
there were three English vessels at this place
and that an English merchant had become
governor of the island. On the 8th I anchored
in Havnfiord Bay to water, when I
learned that Mr. Phelps, an English merchant,
and the owner of the Margaret and
Anne letter of marque, had made Count
Tramp, the Danish governor of the island,
prisoner, and that Mr. Jorgensen (a Danish
gentleman brought from England by Mr.
Phelps) had taken upon him the government
of the island; but that it was not satisfactory
to the inhabitants, in consequence of his
former situations in life. I came here on
the 1 4 th from Havnfiord, for the purpose of
being better informed upon this subject, as
well as for the sake of repairing my rigging.
On entering the harbor I found at anchor
the Margaret and Anne privateer with two
or three other vessels, and saw a blue flag,
with three white fish in the upper quarter,
flying over the town: this I was told was
the new Iceland colors. Count Tramp, who
was a prisoner on board the privateer, requested
to have an interview with me, during
which he stated that he had been extremely
ill used, and inia manner that was contrary
to the laws of nations; that Mr. Jorgensen
was a traitor to his own country (Denmark);
that he had first served Great Britain; then
fought against i t ; and was now, by hoisting
the above-mentioned flag, and by declaring
the island free, neutral, and independent, and
at peace with all nations, acting in rebellion
to both. I therefore thought it necessary to
inquire of Mr. Phelps by what authority he
acted. That gentleman having first declined
to give any explanation to me, and after-
VOL. II. h